Youth Lagoon - HEAVEN IS A JUNKYARD - Album Review

Discover more music, past & present, with my recent videos:

New Music Monthly - June 2023

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NEW ALBUM REVIEWS

The 3 Clubmen EP (art rock/pop)

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse (progressive thrash metal)

Angelo De Augustine - Toil and Trouble (indie folk)

Paul Simon - Seven Psalms (folk)

The Lemon Twigs - Everything Harmony (pop rock; chamber pop)

Temples - Exotico (psychedelic pop rock)

Deerhoof - Miracle-Level (experimental indie rock)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - V (psychedelic indie rock)

Rain - Radio Silence (progressive rock)

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2010s ALBUMS THAT MADE ME

William Tyler - Modern Country

The Dear Hunter - Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise

Snarky Puppy - We Like It Here

John Grant - Queen of Denmark

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RANKINGS & LISTS

Top 20 Albums of 2022

Wife Reacts To Top Songs of 2022

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[Man_of_Oil]

I think your criticism about it not really having enough to offer in terms of melodies is fair enough! And the thing about the mythos of an artist being more alluring than the actual songwriting is something I've noticed with other artists, where if you don't fully buy into it the enjoyment is just not the same.

As for me, this was my first Youth Lagoon project so I went in knowing next to nothing about the guy. The production is just so captivating and hauntingly beautiful. I feel like the songwriting kinda draws from the same well as early UMO, some Deerhunter, maybe Panda Bear a bit. There's enough there for me as far as hooks and melodies that I'm satisfied. His voice was the biggest hurdle I had to get over, and learning about his story and what he went through makes explains a lot. It took me a minute to get there but I really enjoy this album!

Have you listened to the Do Nothing record Snake Sideways? That one came out of left field for me and I've been enjoying it. I haven't been able to get into a lot of the big "post-punk" releases of the past few years but this one kinda did it for me!

[Saintdream]

Easily the best album of 2023. I think the song writing is fantastic. It’s a very emotional album. The 2nd half of the album has become my favorite.